High Glucose-enhanced Acetylcholine Stimulated CGMP Masks Impaired Vascular Reactivity in Tail Arteries from Short-Term Hyperglycemic Rats

Impaired vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation and augmented contractile responses have been reported in several models of long-term hyperglycemia. However, the effects of short-term ambient hyperglycemia are poorly understood. Since oxidative stress has been implicated as a contributor to impaired vascular function, we investigated the following

Cardiac electrical defects in progeroid mice and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome patients with nuclear lamina alterations

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare genetic disease caused by defective prelamin A processing, leading to nuclear lamina alterations, severe cardiovascular pathology, and premature death. Prelamin A alterations also occur in physiological aging. It remains unknown how defective prelamin A processing affects the cardiac rhythm. We show age-dependent cardiac repolarization abnormalities in HGPS patients that are also present in the Zmpste24−/− mouse model of HGPS. Challenge of Zmpste24−/− mice with the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol did not trigger ventricular arrhythmia but caused bradycardia-related premature ventricular complexes and slow-rate polymorphic ventricular rhythms during recovery. Patch-clamping in Zmpste24−/− cardiomyocytes revealed prolonged calcium-transient duration and reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium loading and release, consistent with the absence of isoproterenol-induced ventricular arrhythmia. Zmpste24−/− progeroid mice also developed severe fibrosis-unrelated bradycardia and PQ interval and QRS complex prolongation. These conduction defects were accompanied by overt mislocalization of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43). Remarkably, Cx43 mislocalization was also evident in autopsied left ventricle tissue from HGPS patients, suggesting intercellular connectivity alterations at late stages of the disease. The similarities between HGPS patients and progeroid mice reported here strongly suggest that defective cardiac repolarization and cardiomyocyte connectivity are important abnormalities in the HGPS pathogenesis that increase the risk of arrhythmia and premature death

ARIA 2016 : Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease.Peer reviewe

Marine Biodiversity in the Caribbean: Regional Estimates and Distribution Patterns

This paper provides an analysis of the distribution patterns of marine biodiversity and summarizes the major activities of the Census of Marine Life program in the Caribbean region. The coastal Caribbean region is a large marine ecosystem (LME) characterized by coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, but including other environments, such as sandy beaches and rocky shores. These tropical ecosystems incorporate a high diversity of associated flora and fauna, and the nations that border the Caribbean collectively encompass a major global marine biodiversity hot spot. We analyze the state of knowledge of marine biodiversity based on the geographic distribution of georeferenced species records and regional taxonomic lists. A total of 12,046 marine species are reported in this paper for the Caribbean region. These include representatives from 31 animal phyla, two plant phyla, one group of Chromista, and three groups of Protoctista. Sampling effort has been greatest in shallow, nearshore waters, where there is relatively good coverage of species records; offshore and deep environments have been less studied. Additionally, we found that the currently accepted classification of marine ecoregions of the Caribbean did not apply for the benthic distributions of five relatively well known taxonomic groups. Coastal species richness tends to concentrate along the Antillean arc (Cuba to the southernmost Antilles) and the northern coast of South America (Venezuela – Colombia), while no pattern can be observed in the deep sea with the available data. Several factors make it impossible to determine the extent to which these distribution patterns accurately reflect the true situation for marine biodiversity in general: (1) highly localized concentrations of collecting effort and a lack of collecting in many areas and ecosystems, (2) high variability among collecting methods, (3) limited taxonomic expertise for many groups, and (4) differing levels of activity in the study of different taxa

PhDAY 2020 -FOO (Facultad de Óptica y Optometría)

Por cuarto año consecutivo los doctorandos de la Facultad de Óptica y Optometría de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid cuentan con un congreso propio organizado por y para ellos, el 4º PhDAY- FOO. Se trata de un congreso gratuito abierto en la que estos jóvenes científicos podrán presentar sus investigaciones al resto de sus compañeros predoctorales y a toda la comunidad universitaria que quiera disfrutar de este evento. Apunta en tu agenda: el 15 de octubre de 2020. En esta ocasión será un Congreso On-line para evitar que la incertidumbre asociada a la pandemia Covid-19 pudiera condicionar su celebración

Manual de simulación clínica en especialidades médicas

Manual sobre técnicas y modos de simulación clínica en diversas especialidades médicas.La enseñanza y formación en medicina necesita el uso de la simulación. Existen evidencias de su uso desde hace cientos de años, pero, en los últimos años se ha incrementado y diseminado. La simulación clínica está validada científicamente en múltiples contextos médicos y de otras áreas profesionales de la salud. Y es considerada de gran importancia como proceso de entrenamiento y de mejora de las competencias y adquisición de habilidades médicas en campos que incluye desde la historia clínica, comunicación con el paciente, exploración, diagnóstico terapéutica médica-farmacológica y quirúrgica y seguridad al tratar al paciente. Hoy en día, para muchas técnicas y situaciones clínicas es inaceptable llegar junto a los pacientes sin un dominio adquirido en simulación. La simulación puede ocurrir sin el uso de recursos adicionales, solo las personas, o utilizando pocos o muchos recursos de baja hasta alta tecnología y se puede adaptar a los recursos disponibles, abarcando todas las áreas de conocimiento, y dentro de ellas competencias técnicas o actitudes, solas o en conjunto. El uso racional y basado en evidencia de la simulación es de la mayor importancia por la necesidad de una mayor efectividad y eficiencia en la transformación de los profesionales de la salud para que puedan mejorar su capacidad de atender a los pacientes. La simulación es también una buena herramienta de evaluación de competencias y habilidades en Medicina y otras disciplinas de las Ciencias de la Salud Este manual incluye técnicas y modos de simulación clínica en diversas especialidades médicas, útiles, para quien busque un manual práctico y actualizado.Cátedra de Mecenazgo de la Universidad de Málaga. Cátedra de Terapias Avanzadas en Patología Cardiovascular Cátedra de Mecenazgo de la Universidad de Málaga. Cátedra de Investigación Biomédica Quirón Salu